Romanian Prime Minister wants Ukraine to be EU member in 2019

Romania supports the territorial integrity and the European path of Ukraine.

According to the correspondent of Segodnya.ua, it was stated by the Prime Minister of Romania Victor Ponta at the briefing with the Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk and the Prime Minister of Moldova Yuriy Lyanka after signing the agreement between Ukraine and Romania on local border traffic.

"If until today anybody had asked what kind of the relationship is between Ukraine and Romania, I would have said that we were neighbors. Since today, I can say that we are not only neighbors, but friends. Romania supports the territorial integrity and the European path of Ukraine and Moldova. Basing on the Romanian experience, I can say that Ukraine and Romania need not only words, but support. And the EU should be more pragmatic and specific with regard to Ukraine and Romania", said Ponta.

However, he added that he hoped for speedy accession of Ukraine to the EU.

"Together with the Prime Minister Lyanka we"ve dreamed that in July 2019, when Romania will prevail in the EU, we will sit at the same table together with Moldova and … with Ukraine, why not?" he said.

Ponta also stressed that Romania would never ask for any special status for their communities living on the territory of another state.

In addition, he invited Yatsenyuk to the return football match (between "Dynamo" and "Steaua") in Bucharest.

"I hope that football will be the only thing that separates us", concluded the Romanian Prime Minister.

It is to be recalled, Yatsenyuk and Ponta signed agreements between these two governments on local border traffic, which provides that local residents will receive free permits for simplified border crossing with the right of residence within 30 km from the border for up to 90 days from the date of entry.